CAL FIRE Uniform Handbook · 1500 Reference
Procedure 1502-4

Class D 'Tactical' Uniform — Complete Purchasing Guide

Tactical pants (incl. dual-compliant SKUs), Nomex IIIA shirts, optional gear.

What you need to buy for Class D, per the Class D Tactical Uniform Purchasing Guide (revised May 2023).

What Class D is for

The Tactical Uniform is for employees working in the field where the dress, administrative, or work uniform is not appropriate or practical. Same daily-uniform rule as the rest (PT and soft time are the only exceptions).

T-Shirt — Dark Navy Blue

  • Short sleeve (the Class D guide specifies short sleeve)
  • Crew neck
  • Department-approved T-Shirt marking must conform to CAL FIRE Uniform Policy Insignia Guidelines
  • Color must closely match the Nomex IIIA shirt
  • Long sleeve T-shirt shall not be worn with a short-sleeve Nomex IIIA shirt

Shirt — Nomex IIIA (same as Class C)

Manufacturer SS Male SS Female LS Male LS Female
Flying Cross Navy Blue 9800 86 9810 86 9820 86 9830 86
Workrite Midnight Navy FSC2MN FSC3MN FSC0MN FSC1MN

Tactical Work Pant (Midnight Navy)

Manufacturer SKU
Crew Boss SWP4624
Workrite FP62MN
Cascade 50196MN

These three SKUs are also on the WFPE Approved Manufacturer list for wildland PPE — so the Class D tactical pant doubles as a dual-compliant tactical-side wildland pant when sourced from these manufacturers.

Belt

  • Black leather, basket weave
  • Square-style buckle with center bar
  • Gold-finish (Chief Officer) / Silver-finish (Non-Chief Officer)
  • Example: Chambers 7050-001 (1¾″)

The CAL FIRE logo belt buckle (Sun Badge Company) is permitted as the alternate buckle. Belt buckle must be purchased through an authorized CAL FIRE Local 2881 store.

Socks

  • Black, fine weave, plain
  • Or any socks with approved footwear, if not visible

Footwear

Refer to CAL FIRE Safety Handbook Section 1727 and the Approved PPE Manufacturer List.

The 1500 Class D Purchasing Guide does not specify footwear directly. For Class C/D footwear that meets immediate response criteria, the 1700 Safety Handbook is the source of truth.

Cap — Baseball Style (optional)

Per the Optional Items Purchasing Guide: - Dark navy blue (closely matching uniform) - Wool blend or twill fabric - Mid-Crown 3.5″ - See the Embroidery article for required CAL FIRE typographic logo placement

Manufacturer Examples
Yupoong / Flex Fit 5001V, 6277, 6511
Richardson Navy 653 Flex, 550 Fitted, PTS20 Flex, PTS20M Mesh, PTS65 Fitted, 514 Adjustable

For Incident Management Team members, the Region Chief / Deputy Director / State Fire Marshal designates which color (red or dark navy blue) cap members are authorized to wear on team assignments (Procedure 1502-4).

Hat — Widebrim (optional)

  • Blue (closely matching uniform), no embroidery
  • Propper Tactical Boonie F5519

Hat — Beanie (optional)

  • Blue (closely matching uniform), with or without cuff
  • Richardson R15, R18
  • New Era NE900
  • Blauer Skull Cap #161

Job Shirt (optional, cold weather)

  • Blue (closely matching uniform trousers)
  • Heavyweight cotton / polyester fleece
  • Denim or canvas collar and elbow pads
  • Pullover with half zipper
  • Embroidery to spec
Manufacturer SKU
Game Workwear GAM-810
5.11 Tactical Series 72535 (Canvas) / 72534 (Fleece)
Elbeco Flex Tec Quarter Zip 3774
Elbeco Flex Tec Full Zip 3764

Polo Shirt (optional, AR)

Approval Required — Unit Chief or Program Manager authorizes Polo wear. Same approved manufacturers as Class C (5.11 71049, Elbeco K5134, Blauer 8472, First Tactical 112509-729 / 122509-729 SS, 111503-729 / 121503-729 LS).

Outerwear (optional)

  • Navy (closely matching uniform trousers)
  • Available with detachable hoods and insulated liners
  • Liners not approved without exterior shell (exception: Valiant Duty when embroidery specs met)
Manufacturer Model SKU
5.11 Tactical Series Chameleon Jacket 2.0 48373 Dark Navy
5.11 Tactical Series Valiant Duty Jacket 48153 Dark Navy
5.11 Tactical Series Sabre Jacket 2.0 48112 Dark Navy

Discontinued (no longer purchasable as of January 1, 2026; no wear-out period): 5.11 3-in-1 Jacket 2.0 (48358) and 5.11 5-in-1 Parka 2.0 (48360).

Fleece (optional)

  • Navy (closely matching uniform)
  • Not approved as standalone PPE
  • True North Dragonwear Alpha Jacket (Male or Female)

Sourcing

All Risk Uniforms stocks the complete Class D "Tactical" uniform: dark navy short-sleeve T-shirts, Nomex IIIA shirts (Flying Cross, Workrite), tactical work pants (Crew Boss, Workrite, Cascade — including the dual-compliant SKUs that also appear on the WFPE list), Chambers belts, Sun Badge Company belt buckle, baseball-style caps (Yupoong/Flex Fit, Richardson), Propper widebrim, beanies (Richardson, New Era, Blauer), Job Shirts (Game Workwear, 5.11, Elbeco), polo shirts (5.11, Elbeco, Blauer, First Tactical), 5.11 outerwear, and True North Dragonwear fleece.

Source

Class D "Tactical" Uniform Purchasing Guide exhibit, revised May 2023. Display rules: Procedure 1502-4, revised May 2023. Footwear: 1700 Safety Handbook Section 1727. Optional Items Purchasing Guide, revised October 2025.